Still, NZ First's 7.5 percent return in the party vote has made Mr Peters the key player to emerge from election night and speaking from Russell, he said "We don't have all the cards, but we do have the main cards."

He invited the audience - and media - to be patient about who he forms a coalition with.

"If we hear that [question] one more time we'll be advocating a change in our political system," Mr Peters said.